The top 10 foodstuffs British expats can’t live without

Top (s)pot: Tea is the most missed foodstuff for Brits living overseas

Wash down a mouthful of paella with a cold bottle of San Miguel or a chilled glass of local wine and you’ll wonder what all the fuss is about… for a while. But Brits abroad can’t help but miss the tastes of home – and British newspaper The Daily Telegraph has conducted a survey charting the top 10 foodstuffs that Brits miss when they live overseas.

Most of them are pretty obvious, but as the old adage goes: you can’t please all the people all of the time. There are bound to be some items on the list that you disagree with, or you might be shocked that your favourite foodstuff has been left off…

Well, here’s the top 10 – let us know what you think, and whether there have been any – in your eyes at least – glaring omissions.

In first place: Tea
Ah yes, the classic British cuppa. Was it ever really in doubt? Anybody who has ever been to Spain, or left the British Isles for that matter, will be familiar with that inescapable sinking feeling that immerses you as you scan the aisles of a foreign supermarket in search of ‘proper tea’. Before settling for that Lipton stuff that looks kind of funny.

Second place: The fry up
Or rather, the chilled ingredients that make the classic English fry up. Bacon, sausage and black pudding ran teabags closely. Even though most resorts in Spain will serve a decent English breakfast, many Brits abroad miss the opportunity to rustle one up from the comfort of their own home.

Third place: Chocolate
Particularly Cadbury’s chocolate. Sure, chocolate on the continent is generally considered the real deal – and Milka is a fine substitute – but sometimes only a chewy Boost or a crumbly Flake can sate those choco cravings.

Fourth place: Marmite
A controversial entry in fourth place. The yeasty spread that can divide a nation, Marmite is a much-missed toast topping for Brits abroad. Although probably not so much for Brits in Spain, because Marmite is actually quite readily available at various outlets along the coast.

Fifth place: Condiments
Sauces such as Heinz Tomato Ketchup, HP Sauce and Branston Pickle snaffled fifth place, proving that when it comes to comfort eating, Brits will not accept cheap imitations.

Sixth place: Bisto gravy
Gravy: the Sunday roast ingredient that you notice when it isn’t there. You can prepare a masterpiece of Gordon Ramsay-pleasing proportions, but without a drizzle of the rich brown stuff, all that effort is wasted, as many a beleaguered Brit abroad has found to their cost.

Seventh place: Crisps
Whether it’s the lack of variety, the blandness of flavour or the size of the bags, but few countries seem able to match the UK for their crisp excellence. Those surveyed by the Daily Telegraph had a certain affinity for Hula Hoops and Walkers.

Eighth place: Heinz Baked Beans
Surprisingly low in the top 10, Heinz Baked Beans are the eighth most-missed foodstuff for Brits living abroad. Although baked beans of other varieties are widely available, very few can even get close to Heinz’s perfect balance of tanginess and sweetness.

Ninth place: Biscuits
If tea’s at the top, then it stands to reason that the cuppa’s partner in crime – the biscuit – makes it into the top 10. According to the survey, digestives, Jammie Dodgers and ginger nuts were particularly missed.

Tenth place: Oxo cubes
Bringing up the rear, and perhaps suggesting that the Brits ran out of ideas, are Oxo cubes. Sure, they’re tasty and simple, but one of the most missed foodstuffs for Brits abroad? Hard to believe, but that’s what the survey says!

We want to hear what you think. Why not send us a comment below and let us know what foodstuff you couldn’t live without!